SKILLMAN, N.J. -- With the spring tennis season just around the corner, the Idaho men's tennis team is garnering some national recognition in the ITA preseason top 75, as the Vandals earned a No. 73 preseason national ranking.

The Vandals finished last season ranked No. 70 in the country, and with a 2011 schedule littered with top-75 opponents, Idaho will have ample opportunity to prove itself, and move even higher in the rankings.

The Vandals will face six other ranked teams throughout the 2011 season, including four that are currently ranked in the top 50. Idaho's 2011 ranked opponents include No. 28 Fresno State, No. 37 Hawai'i, No. 43 Boise State and No. 67 New Mexico State in Western Athletic Conference play, along with non-conference showdowns with No. 32 Arizona, and No. 54. Santa Clara.

"This spring we play six opponents who are currently ranked so we have a great opportunity to move up in the rankings as the year goes on," Idaho men's tennis coach Jeff Beaman said. "I am excited to start this spring season and see what this team can achieve."

In addition to the team ranking, a couple of Vandal players earned preseason individual rankings, including Marius Cirstea and Lachlan Reed. Cirstea earned a No. 56 national singles ranking, and a No. 17 regional singles ranking, while Reed is ranked No. 18 in the region in singles.

The Vandals open the season on Jan. 22 against Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash. Idaho's first home match of the 2011 season is April 8, when it hosts the first of six consecutive home matches in an eight day span.